The Devil's Ring and Finger (Standing Stones) — Images (click to view fullsize)

Posted by postman 28th September 2011ce

Elderbush Cave (Cave / Rock Shelter) — Images

Posted by stubob 27th September 2011ce

Falcon Low (Cave / Rock Shelter) — Images

Posted by stubob 27th September 2011ce

Seven Ways Cave (Cave / Rock Shelter) — Images

Posted by stubob 27th September 2011ce

Bury Bank (Hillfort) — Links

Pastscape Extensive description of the fort. There are also two probable BA round barrows within the fort. http://www.pastscape.org.uk/hob.aspx?hob_id=75653&sort=2&rational=m&recordsperpage=10&maplat=52.92052239&maplong=-2.17329336&mapisa=1000&mapist=os&mapilo=-2.1733&mapila=52.9205&mapiloe=w&mapilan=n&mapios=SJ883359&mapigrn=335950&mapigre=388350&mapipc=#aRt Comments (0)  |  Add a comment  |  Permalink

Posted by thesweetcheat 9th September 2011ce

Norbury (Round Barrow(s)) — Fieldnotes

'Visited' 9.8.11 No so much a visit, more a 'view from afar'. Taking the lane north east out of the hamlet of Norbury (***d lane) you can see the Barrow silhouetted on the brow of the hill. Parking in the narrow lane is difficult and access would have required finding a way through the hedgerow, crossing a field full of cows and then over a barbed wire fence to climb the hill (there is no public right). In the end I decided it wasn't worth it and settled from my view from the lane. Comments (0)  |  Add a comment  |  Permalink

Posted by CARL 11th August 2011ce

Webb Stone (Standing Stone / Menhir) — Fieldnotes

Visited 10.8.11 I was a little frustrated by my visit to Bradley as I was only to find one of the three stones mentioned. The one I found couldn't have been easier – right in front of the pub next to the car park entrance. Interestingly, another large stone has now been propped up against the standing stone. To protect it against being hit by a car perhaps? As for the other two stones I am afraid to say I failed miserably. Despite following the directions given I couldn't find either. I walked up and down the lanes with Dafydd dawdling behind but had no joy. There was one largish stone Dafydd spotted but after reading the descriptions given I ruled it out. So only a partially successful visit. Comments (0)  |  Add a comment  |  Permalink

Posted by CARL 11th August 2011ce

Berry Ring (Hillfort) — Fieldnotes

Visited 10.8.11 Directions: Travelling south west out of Stafford along the A518, just after you drive under the M6, you will see a sign to Derrington on your right. Keep on the A518 but take the immediate next turning right towards Dearnsdale Farm. Park where you can. There is a public right of way along the farm drive and across the fields north. The drive actually runs around the western defences of the Hillfort. There is about a 2 metre drop on the left of the drive which I assume is the remains of the outer rampart? and a smaller 1 metre rampart can be made out amongst the bushes to the right hand side of the drive. There is a high barbed wire fence running around the site which is further 'protected' with chest high nettles. The Hillfort is completely overgrown with trees, bushes, brambles etc and access to its interior would be very difficult. I peered through the fence from the drive but was unable to make anything else out. There is a small house on the drive appropriately named Berry Ring Cottage. I can't recommend a visit as access to the actual Hillfort would be very difficult although the outer rampart is easy enough to see. Comments (0)  |  Add a comment  |  Permalink

Posted by CARL 11th August 2011ce

Lud's Church (Natural Rock Feature) — Fieldnotes

The place to park is at Gladbach youth hostel or at the carpark three hudred yards back up the road. Go straight through the youth hostel grounds like you own the place, as the footpath goes this way you kind of do. Following the obvious path that is well trodden, with the sounds of a babbling brook to our right, bluebells up the hill to our left and the oh so welcome sound of Swifts circling about us, it should have been idillic, however I had brought both of the kids and they were all but at each others throats no matter how growly the voice I use, i'm beginning to wonder if they'll ever get on. The path comes to the bridge over the river, twenty yards further on it meets with another and carries on under the name of the River Dane. From the bridge its all up hill i'm afraid up to the big tree (you'll know it) up some more then the path turns right and takes us all the way to Castle cliffs rocks. This, on my first visit to Luds church had me fooled as being the big gorge, especially as there is a gorge behind the rocks, and if you hadnt paid too much attention to previous information, you might be a bit dissapointed, its a really nice place, worthy of being a site on its own, but its not jaw dropping awsome. That strange face is saved for another five minutes, for just two minutes away the path branches, one carries on in the light of day but the other branches off into a low light abode of the fairies. The entrance into this gargantuan grotto is quite small....at first, then it turns left and goes down all the way to the deepest part of the gorge, it often gets quite muddy here. If memory serves this is also diectly below where the wooden statue used to be. The walls (if your looking down ...cliffs) are totally sheer and barely six feet apart, but whilst your wondering and wandering down this twenty meter stretch you soon get to the corner, the kink in the serpentine, and then your jaw drops. The gorge stretches away into the distance, it's difficult to guage how far it is, the walls are so high and steep and the far end is a lot more narrow than this end, almost like one of those optical illusions. Not far infront of us is a young art student painting the scene, we have a nosey and decide he isnt bad, but then he has a captive and very showy muse. We pass him by hoping not to get included in his painting and start to climb, nothing strenuous or testing but it is a bit slippy. Now the gorge splits in two, the left junction is a tight and dark squeeze to who knew where, the right junction has stairs carved into it and light is pouring through the narrow gap, I go this way the kids go the other way, and for a while it goes super natural, not supenatural just nature being super. I stand blinking in bright sunlight, a light oasis, the gorge opens and widens and in this light oasis plants just go for it, everywhere you look there are plants, ferns and mosses mostly but when they're evereywhere it's just stunning. Further on the gorgre begins to peter out untill it completely stops. I get out and walk above it all trying to get a good look into the church, it's quite impossible though, the bushes and undergrowth grow right up to the cliffs edge, I really wouldnt want to stumble upon it this way. Only back at the entrance and above can you look down into it. A thoroughly beautiful and well hidden jewel, well worth the walk and bickering kids, who still havent stopped now. Comments (2)  |  Add a comment  |  Permalink

Posted by postman 9th May 2011ce Edited 10th May 2011ce

Lud's Church (Natural Rock Feature) — Images

Posted by postman 9th May 2011ce